Batavia library debate heats up
Posted by Matt Yonke on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
A one-two punch came in the local press yesterday as pro-lifers were labeled "nitwits", "nincompoops", "thought-police", and the oh-so-condescending "misguided".
Jeff Ward in the Batavia Sun and Laura Berman in the Chicago Sun-Times both ran columns laying into Batavia citizens for daring to speak up about the controversial material being recommended to their children by tax-funded community institutions.
Which is why it's so important that every concerned citizen of Batavia show up to the next library board of trustees meeting on July 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Batavia Public Library (map) where the issue will finally be decided.
With all the name calling, the truly remarkable thing is that they both accuse the concerned Batavia parents of things like hindering our children from "…learn[ing] how to participate in intelligent discourse." I was unaware that intelligent discourse was achieved by juvenile mudslinging or watching sexually explicit cartoons.
Not only that, but teenwire, the controversial Planned Parenthood website in question, is billed as "a beacon of light that can illuminate the darkest days of adolescence." A beacon of light? Really? Talking reproductive organs will illuminate our teens darkest days?
This overblown rhetoric is precisely the reason that the library board of trustees needs to hear from intelligent, rational citizens who simply believe that the library ought not to recommend as good and trustworthy material which a large portion of the community feels is offensive.
Despite the continual and willful misrepresentation in the press, there are no cries for censorship here. No one is demanding that the material be banned, only that the library remain objective on this controversial issue.
""nitwits", "nincompoops", "thought-police", and the oh-so-condescending "misguided"….
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If you Google "Laura Berman"…her website will be the first one on the list and you can see that she sells ***edited for content*** [inapproprriate objects] online…She has the same agenda as Teenwire/PP. That's "objective" reporting, liberal style.
Batavia folks, Be strong…our prayers are with you.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
"That's 'objective' reporting, liberal style."
Media bias goes both ways. It all depends on the agenda. It's not always "liberal" just because it's not objective.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I never cared for Laura Berman. I heard in the news recently she had to close her sex shop because nobody was buying anything. She used to be on some cable show a while back with her sister. It was a sex show disguised as a medical show which promoted the Planned Parenthood deathstyle. I was really happy when it came off the air.
I saw the O'Reilly Factor sometimes has Laura Berman as an expect correspondent on his show. When I saw this a couple of months ago I had to think "Fox News" - Not really as fair and balanced as it used to be.
Mike
July 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Jeff Ward has become a mainstay of the Sun-Times group editorial pages. Whether he really represents what most people think is doubtful but to sell papers one needs controversy. Nevertheless his column helped raise awareness of the matter even as he takes pains to point out that the activists comprise a very small percentage of the population of Batavia. Thank you Jeff for helping us reach a wider audience. Perhaps now a greater number of folks will engage themselves in the controversy.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
VIDEO: Margaret Sanger Interview (1957)
http://generationsforlife.org/2008/0708/sanger/#respond
Mike
July 8th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
***edited for content***
Matt,
I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard the "oh so condescending 'misguided'" being used right her on this forum!
Mike,
Berman still has a radio show which is very good. However, it is meant for ADULTS.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Sorry Student, I know that's twice today, but we do have younger readers. You can ask Ramir that question in the forum if you'd like though.
Also, you're right, I don't want to have a double standard about the "misguided" issue. It's condescending both ways, we shouldn't call you that either. You know what you think and why you think it, so do we. We ought to treat each other with enough respect to recognize that. My apologies.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Matt,
Thank you for recognizing the double standard. I appreciate it — truly. Neither side should be engaging in this and both are guilty.
As to editing the post, I'm not sure why mine was edited and Ramir's was not — they both discuss the same topic. How did my post cross the line when his did not? Double standard?
July 9th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Ramir,
Is there a problem with adults purchasing [inappropriate objects]?
July 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Student,
Thanks, much better phrasing for our purposes.
To answer, if I may, in a free society, not a problem of freedom, per se. People have the right to purchase things I find distasteful. I think what Ramir was pointing out is the particular point of view Ms. Berman is coming from that give insight to her opinions about pro-lifers.
July 9th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
"Student says: Ramir,
Is there a problem with adults purchasing [inappropriate objects]?
July 9th, 2008 at 7:44 pm "
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Why, no, student…no problem there. As you stated, these would be "adults" who can make decision for themselves and be responsible for whatever consequences their decision results in.
I was merely stating Berman would not be able to provide an objective comment on the issue.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I was on the Truth Tour today.
When my two and half year old girl asked what the signs were pictures of I told her they were babies that were hurt and we are trying to get people to help them.
My eight year old girl already has a real understanding how awful abortion is and feeling a genuine desire to change the hearts of people who choose death. Sometimes people would drive by and flip us the finger and I would tell her that those people are probably feeling the hurt of bad choices they made in the past so they are striking out.
My thirteen year old boy is not even phased by the pictures. He is very mature for his age. I had mentioned the Truth Tour to him last week and today it was actually his encouragement that got me off the couch when he asked me to take him out on the Truth Tour.
High school is definely an undeniably appropriate age at which children should be educated as to what abortion is. It wouldn't be fair t them and doesn't make sense not to inform them. I find it very ironic that the same people who want these children to be taught bthat they can get birth control in high school and be taught that they have access to abortion if the birth control fails; are the same people who don't want them educated about what an abortion really is. They are laughable in their "disgust". And they want to "educate" our children that high dose hormone cocktails are "healthy" for them. They actually want to pass laws that make it legal for them to push steroids on our children without parental consent. And I was watching baseball this weekend they had commercials about how steroids should be banned for athletes in baseball cause they are not healthy. O.K.
Lets get this straight. Steroids are unhealthy for adult athletes but healthy for young girls to take on a consistent basis during their adolescense and through adulthood. What is wrong with this picture. Let's keep the truth about abortion in the schools, and keep Planned Parenthood and the drug pushers out of the high-schools so that don't "educate" our children into the unhealthy practice of a lifetime taking high-dosages of steroids.
Wake up people!!! Stop Planned Parenthood from corrupting our children with drugs and teaching that ANY sex is perfectly normal and befriending them by stripping away parental oversight of the dri=ugs and mutilation of ripping the babies out of their wombs in bloody pieces. How can they get away with providing these "services" to the teenagers in our communities? get your heads out of the sand and get rid of Planned Parenthood.
July 13th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Can someone please tell me what happend in court today, 8-22-08. Thanks!
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
My thirteen year old boy is not even phased by the pictures. He is very mature for his age. I had mentioned the Truth Tour to him last week and today it was actually his encouragement that got me off the couch when he asked me to take him out on the Truth Tour.
The above post sounds familiar.Have you already posted that comment or copying someone else.I think alot about Karens posts and some of the others and they make sense.However you sound like an angry person and You also sound very fake.Educator poated something that made me stop and think also Karen has made many good points.It's hard to change your way of thinking however I am trying.Once satan has a hold it's hard to make him let go.I'm trying.Your comments make it very hard to agree therefore I will try to ignore your comments.Karen could you show me a prayer to help me get on the right path please.I would also like to appologize to anyone that I may have offended with my own ignorant posts.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
Sorry,most of my last post was for Truthseeker.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hello Kathy.
I am glad that you posted above and that you are trying to change. I am praying for you. If I can make a couple of comments to you I would like to. Also can I offer a short prayer? I am pretty sure Karen will pray for you as well.
The battle against PP is not directed at people but a satanic, evil philosophy that will destroy our nation from within. Can you understand probably not since the slavery issue has anything caused such divisiveness in our country. My heart is heavy because just as slavery was considered the right of slaveowners to "choose" and the culture of slavery tainted the entire culture with the decadence of cruelty and the devaluing of human life, since the legalization of abortion as the "right of American women" we have seen the tainting of our nation with the devaluing of all life inside and outside of the womb. Yes, there has always been cruel people but I believe that the PP agenda has taken our nation into a level of reckless, promiscuous mentality and devaluing of life that is destroying our nation from within. The epidemic proportions of STDs, premarital sex, out of wedlock births, cohabitation, divorce, (those who cohabit double their risk of divorce not reduce their risk) fatherlessness and young people who do not realize how special and valuable they are because if their sexual expression doesn't mean anything except performing like an animal in heat is a dangerous situation for our whole civilization. By the way, who makes millions of dollars off of this whole scenario by promoting and selling their wares and abortions? PP!!
My prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for Kathy today, that you will help her to understand your heart for this issue of pro-life. Give her the wisdom, understanding and grace to come to you the Creator of all life and see how precious her life is to you, how much you love her and that you "came to give her life and life more abundantly". Amen.
Karen will probably have a better prayer for you but I will continue to pray for you. If I can help you or answer questions I will try. I do accept your apology for some of your previous angry post. God bless you and keep you in His care.I have to go now, having company over.
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Educator,
Thank you for your response.I do have alot of questions but can't think how to wod them.If at all possible I would like to come to PP and hear things first hand.I pass by there 4 times every day except Tuesday and it is amazing how confused I feel as I drive by on New York st.I feel like I'm being torn in two by my feelings.There is so much that confuses me.Thank you by the way for your prayer it made my heart feel light and brought a smile to my face :)!I don't want to go against GOD and I must say that I truly believe that a baby is a baby from before the beginning of conception and to kill it is murder.I stopped blogging because of the shame I felt for saying the things I did.I went against GOD and I only hope HE will forgive me!This is where I start to feel confused so I will go for now and just think some more.Thank you again Educator for everything :)!
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Dear Kathy, Just to let you first know, you have always been in my prayers this whole time, remember? I told you this not so long ago. Kathy, Jesus loves you as if you were the only one He ever created. It is so wonderful and hard to comprehend, isn't it? My prayer is for you to have peace, to have God, to surrender yourself to His love for you.
This is for you Kathy to think about:
I was created for eternal happiness with God in Heaven. Everything else must take second place in my life, because if I lose Heaven, I will be losing everything. The sure guide to Heaven is God's holy Will. If I follow it in my daily life, every moment on earth will be a sure step toward the perfect happiness which my heart craves.
Your prayer:
My God and loving Father, grant me the wisdom to think, speak,and act each day as You want me to. May I never be such a fool as to disagree with Your supreme goodness and wisdom. Nothing on earth can bring me any lasting happiness. Therefore, let me never sin for the sake of anything. I want to live for the perfect happiness for which You created me. Amen
Another Prayer:
O Lord, my God, do not depart far from me. Please look upon me and help me. Evil thoughts have risen up against me and great fears afflict my soul. How am I to pass on without being harmed by them? Show me how I may crush them. You have said, "I will go before you and will humble the great ones of the earth. I will open the gates of the prison and will make known to you hidden secrets." Dear Lord, do as You say, and let all wicked thoughts and desires flee before your face. Amen
After you receive advice, be wise and humble enough to follow it. Try to discover the source of your temptations, so that you may root it out of your life. A man who offers only external resistance to temptations without removing their causes, will make little progress in virtue.These temptations will return to him in a short while, and his condition will be the same, if not worse.
From Jesus:
Unless you keep your eyes on Me, you cannot stand up under the strain of this daily warfare. Without My help you will never earn the reward of the Blessed in Heaven. Face life bravely. With a firm determination, take definite measures to overcome the temptations in your daily life. I will grant heavenly strength to anyone who makes an honest effort. ( This is from a wonderful little prayer book called My Daily Bread)
Kathy, Jesus loves life, He is the creator of all life. Love Him back with your life He has given you, by doing His Will. God Bless you, your friend in Christ, Karen
P.S. ask your heavenly Mother Mary for help with this. She is your mother, she loves you too. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME TOO!
Love life, protect life, share your life and live!
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Karen,
That means more to me than yu will ever know!Thank yu so much.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
More for dear Kathy,
Jesus:
You do not love yourself one fraction as much as I love you. Let me govern your life. Be convinced that I will take good care of you. Only when you seek My Will above all else, only then will you possess the priceless treasure of My peace. Where I reign, there does My peace flourish. (My Daily Bread)
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Come and talk with all the people who are trying to do God's Will. We would love to welcome you there across the street from PP. I am there often too. I would give you a big hug! Look for the big crusifix, when it is there, I am there. Karen
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Good Morning Kathy. I just want you to know I have been praying for you.
Dear Lord Jesus, please reveal yourself to Kathy today. As she submits herself to you, give her the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control Galatians 5:22-23. Do not let the evil one torment her mind, but give her your peace to know that you created her for your DIVINE purpose. That you knew her before she was formed in her mother's womb. Lord let Kathy know that "you know the plans you have for her, plans for her peace not for her destruction but to give her a future and a hope. That if she will seek you with all of her heart, then she will find you." Jeremiah 29:11-12. Amen.
God bless you Kathy.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Karen and Educator,
It makes me shed tears of joy to read your prayers.Thank you both so much for your prayers and for helping to save me from myself with the prayers you have given me.:)
August 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Dear Kathy, I offered my Mass at church today for you. Along with prayer, reading about our Lord has helped me to know Him. I go to "On a Wing and a Prayer" store in Plano. It is located on Rt.34. The book "My Daily Bread" is there, and as you know is a wonderful little prayer book. You might want to take a look at it, along with many other inspirational books. I would be very nice to be able to talk with one another. Maybe we will, God Willing at the prayer site at PP:) have a great Sunday and don't forget to smile, Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "Let us always greet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
August 24th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Dear Educator, God Bless you for your wonderful prayers. Prayers are a "gift of love." Peace to you, Karen
August 24th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
However you sound like an angry person and You also sound very fake.
Posted by Kathy, August 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
Kathy, fake I am not. Every bit of my posts about myself and my children is the truth. I carry my dislike for Planned Parenthood openly,and I admit that the way they fight for their "right" to do barabaric things to women and children, and they fight to get access to our children (unemancipated minors) without parental consent makes me angry; but I say what I say not because I am angry, rather it is cause I am driven to live my life in a way that makes a positive difference for my family and friends and neighbors. I hope that made sense….. I'm just trying my best to make this world a better place.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Hello to Kathy and Karen
Kathy, Just want you to know I am continuing to pray for you and for you Karen as well as you continue to reach out to women and others at the abortion fortress and on this website.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:31 pm